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Introduction: monocytes may be divided into subsets based on the levels of CD14 and CD16 expression: classical (CD14highCD16-), intermediate (CD14highCD16+) and non-classical (CD14lowCD16+). Objective: to evaluate the monocyte subsets in patients infected with HIV-1 in use or not of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Methods: we analyzed four study groups, made up of: individuals not infected with HIV- 1; individuals infected with HIV-1 without the use of ART;individuals infected with HIV-1 whose ART consisted of two Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Nucleoside (T1) and individuals infected with HIV-1 whose ART consisted of two Reverse Transcriptase Nucleoside Inhibitors associated with one Reverse Transcriptase not Nucleoside Inhibitor (T2 ). Monocyte subsets were determined by flow cytometry and the statistical analyzes performed with the GraphPad Prism 6. Results: the CD14highCD16 subset presented low percentage in T1 and T2. In CD14lowCD16+ subset, as well as reduced in the mentioned groups, there was also a reduction in the patients who did not use ART. In CD14highCD16- monocytes, we see a low percentage of the control group. Conclusion: monocytes are also important targets of ART, contributing to the control of HIV-1 infection, since they act as a reservoir and virus spreading through the tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]